Thursday, 31 January 2013

I'm in the final stages of preparing information for the release of publicity and to open delegate bookings for the CILIP Cymru Wales Conference 2013. (Further information to follow shortly!) So imagine my delight when I read in today's press release that one of our keynote speakers, Liz McGettigan, Director of Edinburgh City Libraries, has been confirmed on the Guardian's Public Leaders Network editorial advisory panel.

Liz is a CILIP Trustee and has been chosen to be on the Advisory Board for her expertise in digital services and inclusion. You will be able to hear Liz speak in Cardiff, at the Conference, on Thursday 16th May at 10.20am. Don't delay in booking your delegate place!

If you are a Twitter user you might care to follow Liz @lizmcgettigan! Liz tweets some really fascinating and useful information.

Monday, 28 January 2013

The CILIP Policy Department are exploring the feasibility of responding to the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee Inquiry into the implementation of the Finch Report on expanding access to research publications.

Urgent feedback from colleagues working in the Higher Education sector is sought on the implications of the Finch Report. Please submit your evidence before 5pm on 31st January 2013 to policy@cilip.org.uk or by submitting a comment on the CILIP Information & Advice Blog where further information is also available. The following text comes from the CILIP blog:

"CILIP supports, as a matter of principle, measures to improve people’s access to information. We acknowledge that the underpinnings for the economic model that has supported the publication of scholarly research for the past 350 years have gone. However the gold model recommended by Finch and accepted by the government has many ramifications for libraries and has divided opinion amongst CILIP members. [...]

Do you have evidence of what’s happening – or what you predict will happen –in relation to the above in your institution?

Things to consider when collating evidence could include:

• What impact is the transition to gold open access having on library budgets? Are funds being diverted to pay for Article Payment Charges (APCs)? Should libraries be involved in managing open access spending for APCs? • Does the gold model disadvantage research-intensive universities?• What about humanities and social science research - this is often undertaken without any dedicated funding from external sources – what is the impact, if any, on these collections?• Will the preferred gold model end up costing more? There are huge cost implications if APCs rise, the UK remains ahead of the rest of the world, and fees for non-UK authors are not being met by their funders/institution• Is green open access a more viable route to expanding access to published research, or are repositories on their own ineffective?

Thursday, 24 January 2013

At the launch of the First Incomplete Field Guide to Wellbeing in Libraries, at a conference in Newport on Thursday 16 January 2013, Huw Lewis AM, Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage, spoke powerfully in recognition of the significant contributions that public libraries make in supporting the health and wellbeing of people in Wales. It seemed to be the consensus of delegates that Huw spoke more powerfully on this occasion than anytime previously, in support of public libraries in Wales , noting the strong contrasts between the situation in Wales and England. The Minister encouraged delegates to contact CyMAL at an early stage with any concerns about changes to public library services in Wales. CyMAL would seek to work in partnership with the Service and the Local Authority to address such concerns. The implication appeared to be that the Welsh Government would ensure that standards of public library service and provision in Wales must be maintained despite the current public sector financial restrictions. Lines in the sand have been drawn.

Libraries aren’t add-ons; they are not extras or “nice to haves”. The provision of information and knowledge isn’t an extra.

I made notes on Huw’s speech, and as there doesn’t appear to be a publicly available copy, it may be useful to summarise the main points here. This is far from a verbatim report, but I hope that I have the main thrust and points to the speech. If you were there and disagree, or have more to add, please do comment!

Public Libraries do invaluable work to support the delivery and improvement of health and wellbeing. Being at the heart of our communities libraries are safe, social, supportive, open to all, and are recognised as being reliable and trustworthy. Libraries have a profound impact on peoples’ lives and quality of life – they are hugely empowering. The Incomplete Field Guide illustrates and demonstrates the many ways in which public libraries support health and wellbeing in Wales. It is hoped that the Guide will serve as a catalyst or stimulus for further development, especially for the creation of new partnerships and developments.

Government policy needs to take a holistic view – serving the needs of the whole of society and of the whole person. Libraries can support the delivery of holistic services. Libraries link people with the information that they need, and so will aid this holistic provision.

We should recognise that Wales is a world-leader in developing the first Books on Prescription Scheme. An innovative partnership of mental health professionals, GPs and Public Libraries saw the development, in 2003, of the Cardiff-based scheme prescribing titles to support the treatment of mild and moderate mental health conditions. The scheme expanded across all of Wales in 2005 to become Book Prescription Wales. BPW remains a highly valued initiative by the Welsh Government.Indeed, many nations have now followed Wales’ lead, implementing similar books on prescription schemes.

We are living in economically very difficult times, but never has the Welsh body-politic turned its back on libraries. Indeed, the agenda of modernisation is truly alive today

The Welsh Government continues to support, celebrate, showcase, expand the agenda for, and to protect public libraries. The contrast is especially stark when compared with England. In Wales the number of visits to public libraries continues to increase. Not so in many English public library authorities.It would appear that in England, Local Councils see public libraries as disposable assets, closing libraries or pushing them out to be volunteer–run. For Wales the view is most certainly different. Libraries aren’t add-ons; they are not extras or “nice to haves”. The provision of information and knowledge isn’t an extra.

We are living in economically very difficult times, but never has the Welsh body-politic turned its back on libraries. Indeed, the agenda of modernisation is truly alive today, supported through CyMAL Funding. Public Libraries, the Welsh Government in CyMAL, and local authorities need to work in partnership to enhance and ensure modernisation of public libraries. There is strong need for continued work for libraries to address the needs of new audiences, continuing to serve traditional or “core” library users, but engaging and working with new audiences. The Incomplete Field Guideillustrates much great work in this area and developments such as this need to continue and expand.

Partnership working with CyMAL was especially stressed. The Minister urged us to provide CyMAL with early indications of concern or of problems in public libraries. There are very clear expectations for standards of public libraries in Wales. The implication appeared to be that CyMAL and the Welsh Government will take a strong stance to ensure that these requirements are achieved.

In closing his speech the Minister stressed that healthy public libraries are a pre-requisite of civilised living. He urged us to take the Incomplete Field Guide as a source of inspiration and to build on this. Mental health provides a massive, challenging agenda. Austerity also provides significant challenges. How do we continue to provide the same level of service, or make improvements, during these tough times? We must share good practice and develop productive partnerships in order to meet the challenges of supporting improving mental health and austerity.

Public Health in Wales is high on the agenda, with the direction of travel seeking to empower people to best help themselves. Public Health Wales and Public Libraries have a lot to gain in working together in this context.

the Minister continues to place Public Libraries at the heart of a civilised society, and sees them as essential in delivering, through partnership with others, vital services including those that benefit health and wellbeing.

Informal feedback from a few delegates I spoke to after the event agreed that this was the strongest, most supportive speech for public libraries in Wales that the Minister has made so far. Let us be under no illusions, local authorities in Wales are under increasing financial pressures, and are facing very real difficulties in balancing budgets whilst maintaining core services such as education and social services. All public library services in Wales are feeling these pressures. But the Minister continues to place Public Libraries at the heart of a civilised society, and sees them as essential in delivering, through partnership with others, vital services including those that benefit health and wellbeing.Delegates came away feeling that the Minister would take action where a public library authority fails to adequately support its service.

"There have been a lot of changes in councils today with Anglesey, Denbighshire, Kent, Leicester, Newport, Southampton and Tower Hamlets all having amendments on the list. While the changes make clear that Wales is not exempt from cuts, the clear difference is that the Welsh Government - in the form of Cymal - has issued what amounts as a warning to Anglesey. Such a direct action would simply never happen in 2013 England."

Stephen Gregory

Policy Officer (Wales) - Maternity Cover

CILIP Cymru

Further update 1/2/13 - The Incomplete Field Guide is now available at

Saturday, 19 January 2013

An event at the City Centre Campus of the University of Wales, Newport on Thursday 17th January, saw a wide range of librarians and health professionals gather to discuss and celebrate the contributions that public libraries make to health and wellbeing (HWB). In the afternoon the Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage launched the "First incomplete field guide to wellbeing in Libraries" (see this blog for further information). Here I provide information from the formal sessions in the morning.

Book Prescription Wales (BPW) - Professor Neil Frude

Professor Neil Frude, a clinical psychologist who was instrumental in the development of the BPW scheme, spoke persuasively and with huge passion. Neil is a truly fantastic advocate for libraries! The session provided background on the formation of the BPW, considered possible future developments with the scheme and outlined a broader picture of libraries in supporting HWB.

Book prescription - origins in Wales

The Cardiff Book Prescription Scheme, a truly innovative and now widely copied initiative, was launched in 2003. A collaboration between:

mental health experts who identified quality resources for the book list,

general practitioners who made the prescriptions, and

public libraries who made the core list of titles widely available from safe, accessible, welcoming, respected premises

Book Prescription recognises and exploits that self-help treatment manuals for some minor and moderate mental health conditions (e.g. depression, anxiety, eating disorders etc) can be extremely effective in enabling sufferers to overcome these conditions. Books encapsulate the expertise of highly successful therapists, and enable cheap onward delivery, meaning that book prescription is usually extremely cost effective.

In 2005 the Book Prescription Scheme was expanded to operate throughout Wales. The book list has been revised and expanded, and a broader spectrum of health professionals now refer to the Scheme (e.g. Community Psychiatric Nurses, Health Visitors, Counsellors) as well as other agencies (e.g. prison libraries, workplace occupational health services, job centres, voluntary groups). BPW has gone from strength to strength and now accounts for more than 30,000 book loans each year, and three out of ten of the most borrowed non-fiction titles are from the BPW list. The scheme now includes audio-books, with four titles in Welsh, and there is also parallel scheme for childrens' books.

Future direction?

Neil wonders whether the BPW scheme could be expanded further to encompass some titles for dealing with physical illness - for instance coping with chronic pain, arthritis, managing diabetes effectively. These texts work by empowering people, enabling them to improve the management of their condition - self-management. In order to achieve this further collaborative work would be required: the appropriate professionals (from a variety of health care fields) would need to select suitable resources; libraries would need to stock them; and health care professionals know to prescribe them. Overall this could be incredibly cost-saving and life enhancing.

Wider benefits of libraries in HWB

Neil closed his presentation by briefly summarising the wider benefits of libraries to HWB, noting the MLA report of 2010 from England. There are actual, potential and incidental benefits to health and wellbeing through libraries, in addition to specific schemes that operate directly to benefit HWB: therapeutic reading groups; books on prescription; creative bibliotherapy; specific themed events etc.

Libraries Inspire - Linda Tomos (Director, CyMAL)

In a session that asked more questions than provided answers, Linda challenged participants to provide ideas to enhance Libraries Inspire - the national strategy for libraries. The Strategy will be in place until the next Assembly Election (2016) and so there is still time to influence and implement. We must demonstrate what we do (and The First Incomplete Field Guide toWellbeing in Libraries is a fantastic example of this), but also what more we could do if given additional resource. Government will be keen to learn of new ways to deliver services with less money.

Although CyMAL's primary role is to provide informed advice to Ministers on museums, archives and libraries, it also see itself as a an enabler, fostering the art of the possible. Synergies should be identified and exploited. The partnerships between health and libraries is a great example of how rewarding these links can be.

Aside from bibliotherapy and the likes of BPW, Linda also noted that libraries offer fantastic opportunities for volunteers, and in doing so libraries have contributed to the HWB of their volunteers. [This is of course true, but it is yet one further, and in my view regrettable, steer from CyMAL to encourage the use of volunteers in libraries].

Linda noted the previous strong and exciting but unsuccessful bid to the Big Lottery Fund to develop BPW for the management of some physical illnesses. Picking up on Neil's session, Linda now wondered whether it might be appropriate to revisit the proposal and to try again. [Again, I welcome this suggestion, but at the same time can't help but be saddened that government funding couldn't be sought for such an initiative].

The Welfare Reform process, including Universal Credit, introduced by the Westminster Government, will have significant impact in Wales. We need to work effectively to protect the most vulnerable in our societies. However, significant progress has been made in the past. The widespread introduction and use of adaptive technologies in Welsh Libraries needs to be celebrated. The Peoples' Network was phenomenally significant. Should we now be thinking along the lines of PN Mark 2?

Linda urged this to be the start of a conversation for enhancing Libraries Inspire in the run up to 2016. And to question what we are doing, are we doing it well, and is this providing maximum benefit for our communities?

Cancer Information in the Community - Susan Morris, Macmillan Cancer Support Wales

The story of cancer has changed significantly over recent years. People diagnosed with cancer are living longer and with improved quality of life. Sixty percent of people diagnosed with cancer will live for five or more years beyond their diagnosis. In those diagnosed with breast cancer 80% will have a five year survival rate. In Wales 17,000 people will receive a diagnosis of cancer each year.

Susan reminded us that much of the focus for cancer remains in clinical settings. For many people this is a really difficult place to receive, retain, understand and act on information. It also means that the broader emotional, psychological, social and financial needs of people with cancer are unmet. Information and support needs are huge, and extend for a longer time as cancer, in many cases, becomes a chronic condition. The impact, support and information needs reside not only with the person with the cancer diagnosis, but with family members, friends, colleagues and carers.

Macmallan's view is that information and support needs to be available in the community, that it is available from diagnosis, through treatment and afterwards, and should be available for all touched by cancer, and needs to cover holistic needs (emotional, psychological, social and financial). In this context MCSW have four 3 year pilot projects, providing Cancer Information Specialists in South East Wales operating within public library services and contactable online or by telephone. Macmillan have also provided training and support to 75 Boots pharmacists in Wales, so that they can provide greater support and signposting.

Things are changing. The Welsh Government's Five Year Cancer Delivery Plan identifies the need for personalised and holistic assessment of needs. Public Health Wales have also been charged with providing a Strategic Information Lead, recognising the difficulties in easily accessing high quality. consistent information on the internet. Macmillan Cancer Support already do much for the dissemination of high quality, digestible information. But having a single source for reliable, reviewed and trusted health information would clearly be advantageous.

Rhondda Breast Friends - Diane Raybould

Diane spoke about her personal experience, her struggle and war, resulting in personal action in the community. Rhondda Breast Friends was established in 2006, recognising the huge and mostly unmet information needs of people and families facing breast cancer. In 2009 RBF established partnership projects with Public Libraries in RCT. This recognised that libraries were close to their communities, were open to all and provided safe spaces to provide information and support. The provision of appropriate information can help empower and educate, and thereby relieve anxiety and fear. Diane echoed Susan's point that hospitals / clinical settings aren't good spaces to deliver this continuing and extended information support. This support needs to be:

clear, easy to understand, and given at appropriate times

locally available, with 1:1 support, and able to accommodate learning disabilities etc.

provided in a suitable environment - safe, comfortable, aways from the "medical blur", provided with a listening ear with someone who cares and believes in you

empowering - actions need to result

Libraries are "centres of empowerment" and therefore they are obvious points of delivery for these types of service.

Panel Question Time

Regrettably, my note taking during the panel session wasn't as good as it should have been. I won't directly attribute comments therefore.

Q1 noted the excellent sustainability of the BPW scheme: it is a simple scheme, backed up by extensive evidence of effectiveness, and is extremely cost effective. Are there parallels that we can draw from this?

BPW use for chronic conditions doesn't seem so straightforward to achieve, or so certain.

There is no single one-stop-shop for quality health care information. Public Health Wales' strategic lead for this could be great, and hugely beneficial.

A reminder to use what you've got, but to use it more effectively. This may be a case of bringing together existing (and often statutory) services, so that they can work more effectively together.

Using Big Lottery Funding to pump-prime projects that then realise financial savings / benefits and so are therefore fundable from existing resources

Noted that BPW tackles a very discrete set of issues and it's impact can therefore be readily determined. Other health care contexts are more complex and diffuse, there are a variety of interventions, and a wide range of benefits. Attributing cause and effect in these contexts is difficult. The value of social intervention is difficult to gauge.

Q2. Is it possible to role out BPW to include physical conditions? We've already seen the example of Exercise on Prescription!

Establishing a list of quality audited resources would be more difficult because of the wide range of health care professionals that would need to be involved.

Great ideas can easily get parked and buried - Neil gave evidence to a House of Commons Select Committee on the effectiveness of book prescription but nothing came of this. Ministers need clear evidence of effectiveness but in some instances this evidence isn't available. Under such circumstances we become trapped in a scientific Catch-22 situation.

Q3. Comment from Steve Hardman (Swansea Libraries). What happens when there are no public libraries? We need to act before it is too late. In Swansea 26,000 HWB loans were made last year. People borrow these items because they need them, not because they are great reads. Who will provide this service if public libraries aren't there?

Linda responded that BPW was funded from health budgets. We need to seek alternative funding sources to help us develop our services.

Sir Mansel also reminded the audience that the Public Health Green Paper will place health high on the policy agenda. We need to be wary of it's impact, to be actively involve in consultation and dialogue, and to sieze opportunities that arise from it.

Friday, 18 January 2013

Huw Lewis, Welsh Government Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage, launched The first incomplete field guide to wellbeing in libraries on Thursday 17th January at an event in Newport.

The guide (available at http://www.goscl.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Wellbeing-in-Libraries1.pdf ) highlights over 50 examples of activities in Welsh Public Libraries that contribute to the health and wellbeing of library users, including fascinating case studies from each of the 22 public library authorities. Examples include initiatives that operate across Wales such as the Book Prescription Wales and the "Get reading, get better" campaign﻿. But equally fascinating are the local initiatives that could perhaps offer inspiration to other libraries to follow suit, or to be similarly creative. These include schemes that:

support parents and carers,

engage and enthuse children and teenagers,

provide support to job seekers,

enrich the lives of older, homeless, vulnerable or disabled people, and those otherwise at the margins of society.

The guide draws on the excellent work of the Society of Chief Librarians in Wales and their report of 2012 on the Health, Wellbeing and Social Benefits of public libraries (available at http://www.goscl.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/SCL-Wales-report.pdf). Both publications will serve, I am sure, as excellent support materials, when discussing libraries' roles in supporting health and wellbeing targets with councillors, cabinet members, directors and other key stakeholders. And these are crucial discussions to be having.

However, the guide isn't just relevant to public libraries! There are parallels for libraries in all other sectors too. Workplace libraries may often support the health information needs of their users. Academic libraries do much to support their students and learners with health, welfare and pastoral information. Not only does the guide offer great ideas for how library services can support the health and wellbeing of their patrons. This is a great example of how to provide convincing "evidence" for the value and impact of libraries where direct measurement or indicators are difficult or impossible to provide.

Wednesday, 16 January 2013

The Call for Papers for the CILIP Cymru Wales Annual Conference, closed just before Christmas. We received seven responses, but some of these included a couple of different proposals. All the proposals received were of an excellent standard, and clearly demonstrate successful collaborative and partnership work undertaken. Thank you to everyone who took the time and trouble to submit - we really value your suggestions! Thank you also to those of you who may have started the process but didn't quite get there.

I have written to all proposers inviting them to speak at conference and have established a draft programme. There is a basis for a very interesting, pertinent and developmental conference on the strength of these submissions alone!

This is the first time, that I am aware of, that a formal call for papers has been released for the CILIP Cymru Wales conference. It's proven to be a very useful process, and will result in a conference that allows Welsh practitioners to really demonstrate innovative service development. Hopefully this will mean that the conference will be of interest and relevance to a wide cross-section of Welsh library and information professionals. This is doubly so, because several of the active CILIP Special Interest Groups in Wales will also be contributing sessions, or holding events around conference! More information to follow!!

Further publicity about the Conference, to be titled - Rising to the Challenge: Developing Library and Information Services through Partnership and Collaboration - will be published in February. Bookings will also open at this time. The conference will be held in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Cardiff City Centre on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th May 2013.

Thursday, 10 January 2013

The Welsh Government is currently running a campaign to encourage parents, grandparents and carers to read with children:

"Reading with a child for 10 minutes every day really will help take them places"

So I hope that library staff in all sectors can expect a plethora of questions about, and interest in, reading with children. Be prepared!

The campaign includes radio, television, cinema and online advertisement and is supported by http://betterreading.co.uk/ website. Indeed the TV advertisements are running now (7th - 27th January) on ITV Wales and S4C. You may have spotted one already? (The advertisement is available on this page if you haven't seen it http://betterreading.co.uk/resources)

The campaign seeks to engage and encourage parents, grandparents and carers to read with their children, thereby encouraging children to read and to develop the reading habit. The campaign isn't just confined to books, but values and promotes reading of web pages, comics, newspapers and recipes. The overall aim is to improve the literacy of 5-14 year olds in Wales.

Support materials for librarians are also available via the toolkit area of the www.library.wales.org/ web site.

I guess for many adults it's all too easy to fall into the trap of thinking that reading is a solitary activity. But the success and enthusiasm evident at storytimes in libraries / schools, book readings / meet the author events, Literature Festivals, reading groups and for audio-books, all counter this premise. However, I'm always really surprised when I meet folk who don't have at least one book "on the go", or who discount reading the local newspaper, or browsing the web. For these people the reading for pleasure habit has been lost. Hopefully this campaign, along with similar ones, can also help to redress this balance.

As a child, I valued the time that my Mother spent with me helping me to read Jules Verne "20000 leagues under the sea". It didn't foster a love of sci-fi for me, but it did encourage my reading habit and helped me to overcome some reading difficulties at the time. I'm also struck now as to why I didn't read to my Grandmother when her sight failed. As an avid reader in later life, I'm sure now that she would really have appreciated revisiting some favourite books, or hearing some of my favourites. What a missed opportunity!

Has this campaign impacted your professional lives, or do you know of children where there has been a positive impact? Is the campaign having an impact? Are additional resources or support materials required? Your thoughts will be welcomed!

The Kathleen Cooks Fund is administered by a management committee consisting of the Officers of CILIP Cymru / Wales together with two independent members who represent public and academic / special libraries in Wales. Independent members are appointed to serve for two years.

This is a call for expressions of interest for two new independent panel members.Candidates interested in applying will:

be a CILIP Member living or working in Wales

not be a member of the CILIP Cymru Wales Executive Committee>

work in a public, academic or special library. Members who have retired from work in these sectors will also be welcomed

be willing and able to respond, within 2 working days, to any new Kathleen Cooks Fund submissions

Approximately ten awards are made each year. Submissions to the Fund are received throughout the year and are circulated to Management Committee members by email. Decisions are also made through email discussion and majority decision. There will be an annual meeting of the Management Committee, at which the annual report and accounts of the fund will be approved.

Administrative support for the Fund is provided by the CILIP Policy Officer (Wales).There is also an independent Treasurer for the Fund. Consequently, burdens generated by taking up this position will be light.

Monday, 7 January 2013

I am delighted to inform you that the Annual Report for 2012 is now available in English and Welsh. The Executive Committee, and particularly the Officers of CILIP Cymru Wales (Chair, Vice Chair, Events Officer, Treasurer, Secretary and Policy Officer) work exceptionally hard to make this Home Nation Branch as vibrant and productive as it is. The Annual Report provides a flavour of this activity from across the year.

The Report includes:

a summary of CILIP Cymru Wales' activities in 2012

promotion of the new CILIP Knowledge and Skills Base

details of income and expenditure

an update from the CILIP Special Interest Groups active in Wales

the business plan and details of the Executive Committee

Update 10th January:-

The Annual Report is also available to view at http://issuu.com/cilipcymruwales. Issuu is a digital publishing platform allowing the creation and sharing of content in a high quality online magazine format.

About CILIP Cymru Wales

The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) Wales came into being on 1 April 2002, and is a Branch of CILIP. CILIP Cymru / Wales asserts that high quality library and information provision is a fundamental requirement for an informed, democratic, and bilingual society in Wales and through its members it seeks to make such provision available to all. CILIP Cymru Wales works for the benefit of our members, the wider library and information community, and for the benefit of society.
Please contact us at wales@cilip.org.uk